Without going into its Pagan roots and connections to the Day of the Dead (another fantastic holiday), I find it interesting that while the rest of the year most people say they don't believe in ghosts and what not, Halloween is still widely celebrated.

I would know — I'm one of the crazy people who watch scary movies even though I'm anxious throughout the whole thing and ask my husband to tell me if someone gets stabbed so I don't have to watch.

My guess is that it makes us feel that we've come close to danger and miraculously survived, even though we know it's all fiction.

But Halloween gives us that permission to be scared, embrace the macabre and face our fears. That's pretty cool.

I really do love scary movies, especially zombie flicks (or shows for that matter. What's up, "Walking Dead" fans?). I'm also pretty convinced that if a zombie apocalypse were to ever happen I'd probably outlast a lot of other people. Remember, aim for the head.

I've always been interested in monsters and the idea of spirits trying to connect with the living.

As a kid, I would write short scary stories and promise I'd be the next Stephen King. It could still happen. I just need to move to New England.

I've seen almost all the classic horror films, except for "Friday the 13th," but I refuse to watch the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" ever again. One time with Mr. Leatherface was all I could handle.

I got married on Halloween and encouraged guests to come in costume. For a while, I seriously considered wearing something spooky myself, but thought I might regret it when looking at pictures years from now.

Right now, the desktop background on my work computer is the stretching portraits from the Haunted Mansion in Disney World.

Best of all, I can let my freak flag fly during this time of year and no one thinks twice because, hey, it's Halloween.